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I Peter

I Peter. Choice, Values, Reasons. Agenda. Background What’s is all about? Outline Key Concepts Motivation Choice Obedience and Freedom Identity Suffering Church Life Difficult Verses Practicals. Background. Author: The apostle Peter Place of writing: Rome (Babylon 5:13)

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I Peter

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  1. I Peter Choice, Values, Reasons

  2. Agenda • Background • What’s is all about? • Outline • Key Concepts • Motivation • Choice • Obedience and Freedom • Identity • Suffering • Church Life • Difficult Verses • Practicals

  3. Background • Author: The apostle Peter • Place of writing: Rome (Babylon 5:13) • Date: ~62 AD • Audience:God’s elect… scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia… (1:1) – Roman provinces in Asia minor (Turkey). • Form: letter. Possibly a circular letter, carried by Silvanus along the route suggested in 1:1.

  4. Locations

  5. Political Background • Roman empire. • Nero (54-68 AD) • Localised persecution in Rome at this time. Empire wide persecution came later. • Strong Greek (Hellenistic) influence in these parts. • Diaspora Jews would have existed as well.

  6. Religous Background • Paul’s 1st MJ – Southern Galatia 46-48 AD • Paul’s 2nd MJ – Asia 50-52 AD • Peter preached in Antioch (Gal 2:11) • Cappadocia, Bithynia, Pontus churches planted from Asia and Galatia? Maybe from Acts 2:9. • At time of writing, the oldest possible church in the region would have been ~15-30 years old. • Christianity still seen as a Jewish sect, although was becoming more distinct.

  7. Purpose of Writing Why?

  8. Purpose of Writing • Clues: • 1:1 strangers in the world, scattered.. • 5:12 I have written to you briefly, encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it. • Glory of future salvation. • Trusting God in difficult times. • Encouragement, instruction and reasons for longterm faithfulness to God even when life is hard.

  9. Salvation Elect / Chosen / Choice Holiness Obedience Worth, value Revealed Perishable/Imperishable Therefore, so that Self Control Submission Good Key concepts

  10. Prominent Themes • Suffering • Submission • Salvation • Holiness and purity • Choice

  11. Outline

  12. Key Concepts • Reasons for salvation • Value of salvation • Choice of salvation

  13. Why Reason This Happened Now Therefore Situation for us Do This Choose VALUE

  14. Imperishable Why Revealed for your sake Redeemed from empty way of life Now Therefore purified yourselves by obeyng the truth Rid self of all malice etc. 1 Peter 1:18-2:3 Choose to crave pure spiritual milk

  15. Salvation Why Only a few saved, but still justice. Jesus died but was preached Now Therefore Saved by baptism & resurrection Have same attitude as Jesus 1 Peter 3:18-4:6 Choose to live for the will of God

  16. Motivation • Which is more motivating for you? • Don’t do x because it is wrong. • You have a choice to do x or not. As you make your choice, understand the spiritual results of your choice. Also bear in mind, that you are building a spiritual life for the long term as you invest in your salvation. • Now will you do x or not?

  17. Motivation - Sin • Call to be Holy – because God is Holy. (1:14-21) • Am I playing on the same team? • Abstain from sinful desires which war against your soul (2:11)

  18. Making Choices • God wants us to give us reasons so we can make our choices. • A reasoned choice is a much stronger choice and it is more ‘you’. • A choice is best made when you understand the reasons behind your choice and the impact (value) of your choice.

  19. Examples • These have come so that your faith … may be proved genuine… (1:7) • .. You love him … for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls (1:8-9). • Therefore, prepare your minds for action (1:13) • Since you call on a Father who judges each mans work impartially… (1:17)

  20. Examples • .. And so, your faith and hope are in God (1:20) • For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but or imperishable (1:23). • Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit.. (2:1) • …crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation (2:2)

  21. Examples • They stumble because they disobey the message (2:8) • Abstain from sinful desires which war against your soul (2:11) • Submit yourselves…. for it is God’s will that by going good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. (2:15) • Many others!

  22. Reasons Why Do I ?

  23. Choice • God chooses us: • 1:1 God’s elect, strangers in the world. • 1:4 Inheritance kept in heaven. • 2:9 Chosen people, royal priesthood, holy nation – cf. aliens and strangers in the world.

  24. Choice • God chose Jesus • 1:20 Chosen before the creation of the world, but revealed in these last times for your sake. • 2:4 Jesus – rejected by men but chosen by God. God understands rejection

  25. Choice • Christ’s Choices • Choice of response to suffering 2:23-25 • Committed no sin. Did not retaliate. • Instead entrusted himself to him who judges justly. • Example for us. • Sacrifice for us.

  26. Choice • Our Choices: • Choosing righteousness, not sin (1:13ff, 2:11, 4:1-4). • Choosing to serve. (4:8-11, 5:2-3) • Choose humility with one another (5:5-6) • Choose to stand fast in the faith (5:12)

  27. Obedience and Freedom • 1:2 chosen … for obedience to Jesus Christ… • 1:14 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. • 1:22 Purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers. • 4:17 What will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?

  28. Obedience and Freedom • Opposites or complementary? • What we desire v what God desires? • Recognise the realities: we operate in an environment of cause and effect, choices and consequences, actions and judgment. • The world says: Freedom means doing whatever I want. • The truth about that: Our choices are often flawed, and sin enslaves. • God says: Freedom means being able to make the choice to do what God wants for us.

  29. Obedience and Freedom • Ps 119:44f I will always obey your Law for ever and ever. I will walk about in freedom for I have sought out your precepts. • Ps 119:34 Give me understanding and I will keep your law and obey it with all my heart. • Obedience and understanding. • Eg. Obey road rules : free from fear, improved freedom from danger.

  30. Obedience and Freedom • Obedience = God’s Protection • Godly obedience = personal choice based on understanding. • Recognise the true spiritual dynamics about obedience: • God created the world. • God has revealed how to live in it. • Our choices have consequences in this world. • True Freedom is being ‘in step’ with God and his creation by choosing to live life the way God designed it. • God’s commands are not burdensome (1 Jn 5:3-5,Mt 11:28-30) • Further study: Galatians 5

  31. Identity • Being a Christian is being different. • Aliens and strangers. (1:1, 2:11) • The world “thinks it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation” (4:4) • Swimming upstream… • Prompts questions of ‘who am I’, and ‘why’

  32. Identity • God’s answers • Identity is a valid need. • Born into an inheritance. Child of God (1:4,14,2:2) • God’s family planning! (1:2, 1:10-12) • Chosen people, royal priesthood, holy nation, a people belonging to God (2:9-10) • Spiritual relationships • One another (3:8,4:8) • Family of God (4:17) • Brothers around the world (5:9) • Greetings and affection (5:13-14)

  33. Suffering • A key topic in 1 Peter • How much of an issue for them? • How much of an issue for us? • What forms does suffering come in? • Age-old question.

  34. Suffering • Be Prepared • Predicted by the prophets 1:11 • Prepare your mind 1:13 • To give an answer/reason 3:15 • Deal with sin (4:1) • Don’t be surprised (4:12)

  35. Suffering • Be Submissive • Submit to authorities 2:13 • Slaves and masters 2:18 • Wives and husbands 3:1 • One another 3:8 • Suffering has the potential to strain your best source of support – your relationships. • A submission problem is a fear problem

  36. Suffering • Be conscious of God • Through faith are shielded by God’s power (1:5) Set your hope fully on the grace to be given (1:13) • Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake. (2:13) • It is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering if he is conscious of God. (2:19) • No retaliation: …Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly (2:23)

  37. Suffering • Be Spiritual • Scriptures serve us. (1:12) • For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil. (3:12-13) • Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. (4:7) • Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. • Be self-controlled and alert (5:8)

  38. Suffering • Be Proactively Righteous! • Live such good lives among the pagans, that though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. (2:12) • Those who speak maliciously against your good behaviour in Christ may be ashamed of their slander (3:16) • So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good (4:19)

  39. Suffering • Draw strength from relationships • Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another, be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. (3:8) • Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins. (4:8) • Shepherding and submission (5:1-5)

  40. Suffering – Don’ts • Don’t retaliate (2:9) • Don’t turn to sin (4:1-3) • Don’t be surprised (4:12) • Don’t be ashamed (4:16) • Don’t fall away (5:9)

  41. Church Life • Making it great while we wait… • Above all, love each other deeply (4:8) • Love, not war. • Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. (4:10) • Your service to others either promotes or blocks the flow of God’s grace. • Speak and serve as if from God (4:11) • Quality, attitude, excellence.

  42. Church Life • 1 Peter 5 • Elders and young men : examples and submission. • Potential area of conflict. • Godly attitudes are the key! Humility. • Trust God.

  43. 1 Peter 4:8 • Love each other deeply because love covers a multitude of sins (4:8) • kalupto (Gr): to hide, cover up etc. • Mt 8:24, 10:26, Lk 8:16, 23:30, 2 Cor 4:3 • My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins. (Jas 5:19-20) • Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers over all wrongs (Prov 10:12) • Positive. • Context: loving help to remain faithful, seeking the good. • Context: Sin treated seriously in other parts of 1 Peter. • Sense of ‘overlooking’ offences. Promoting love not friction.

  44. 1 Pet 3:18-22 • For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, through whom also he went and preached to the spirits in prison who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all were saved through water, and this water symbolises baptism that now saves you also – not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Chris, who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand – with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.

  45. 1 Pet 3:18-22 • Questions: • Who are the spirits in prison? • Unbelievers who have died? • OT believers who have died? • Fallen angels? • What did Christ Preach? • Gospel message? • Second chance for repentance? • Completion of redemptive work? • Final condemnation? • When did he preach? • In the days of Noah? • Between his death and resurrection? • After his resurrection?

  46. 1 Pet 3:18-22 • View 1: Christ was ‘in spirit’ preaching repentance through Noah to unbelievers who were on earth then but are now ‘spirits in prison’. • View 2: After Christ died, he went and preached to people in hell, offering them a second chance of salvation. • View 3: After Christ died, he went and preached to people in hell, proclaiming to them that he had triumphed over them and that their condemnation was final. • View 4: After Christ died, he proclaimed release to people who had repented just before they died in the flood, and led them out of their imprisonment (in Purgatory) into heaven. (Harrowing of Hell) • View 5: After Christ died, he travelled to hell and proclaimed triumph over the fallen angels who had sinned by marrying human women before the flood.

  47. 1 Pet 3:18-22 • Evaluation • Rule out #2 and #4 : No second chances (Heb 9:27, Lk 16:26 • View #5 relies on interpreting Gen 6:2 as ‘sons of God’ being ‘angels who sinned’. But angels do not marry (Mt 22:30). Also influenced by extra-Biblical writing such as Enoch (6:2), Jubilees, Philo etc.

  48. 1 Pet 3:18-22 • Context • 1 Peter is about encouragement in the face of suffering. • 1 Pet 3:18-21 is bracketed by suffering (3:17 and 4:1). • So we should ask : What is the point of this passage? How does it relate to the contextual theme? • Ideas????

  49. 1 Pet 3:18-22 • Christ suffered in his body, but was made alive by the Spirit. • The time of Noah: • Judgment on disobedience (also 2 Pet 2:4) • Preaching (cf 2 Pet 2:5) • God’s patience • Salvation of a (very) few. • Audience situation: • Suffering in their body • Preaching to the disobedient • Salvation secured. • Therefore: since Christ suffered, arm yourself with the same attitude. Deal with sin (don’t be disobedient), and keep on preaching! (4:1-2)

  50. 1 Pet 3:18-22 • Possible interpretation: • Christ preached a message of repentance through Noah (a preacher of righteousness 2 Pet 2:5). We have already seen that the prophets spoke of salvation by the Spirit of Christ (1 Pet 1:10-11). • God was patient, gave opportunity for repentance in the days of Noah, and he provided a means of salvation (the ark). • Now, God is also patiently providing (a better and extended to more) salvation through baptism and the resurrection of Jesus. • Therefore learn the lessons from Jesus and Noah. Keep on preaching, even against opposition, and seek righteousness.

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